Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a prominent and multifaceted topic within the Indian film industry, eliciting a spectrum of responses from creators who are grappling with its implications. While some downplay its immediate impact, others underscore the urgency of taking AI seriously as it steadily transforms the landscape of storytelling and film production.
Director Shekhar Kapur’s use of the AI tool ChatGPT to craft a script for the sequel to Masoom (1983), focusing on the intricate moral conflicts within the narrative, exemplifies the evolving intersection of technology and creativity. The ability of AI to execute tasks that would traditionally require weeks of scriptwriting raises profound questions about the future of narrative creation in cinema.
India, home to the world’s largest film industry employing a staggering 850,000 people, stands at the forefront of both economic and ethical considerations as AI tools progressively advance. The rise of deepfake videos featuring popular Indian stars like Rashmika Mandanna and Alia Bhatt circulating on the internet adds a layer of complexity to the ongoing dialogue.
Notably, the recent actors’ and writers’ strike in the US, where AI’s role in TV and movie productions became a central issue, demonstrated the potential disruptions and challenges faced by the industry on a global scale.
Despite the lack of a structured conversation around the use of AI in the Indian film industry, industry leaders, including Siddharth Roy Kapur, former president of the Producers Guild of India, stress the need for prompt engagement. The rapid evolution of AI tools demands an informed and proactive approach to harnessing their creative and technological potential.
Guhan Senniappan, director of the upcoming Tamil movie Weapon, is actively challenging conventional norms by steering the first Indian feature film to incorporate a two-and-a-half-minute sequence entirely generated by AI.
While some industry experts see AI as a tool capable of simplifying and expediting specific aspects of filmmaking, others express excitement about the prospect of automating certain labor-intensive VFX processes that currently demand meticulous, frame-by-frame manual work.
However, even as AI gains prominence in film production, voices like Senniappan’s acknowledge a preference for live-action shoots. Despite AI’s ability to produce aesthetically pleasing results, there remains a recognition that the organic, human-driven process carries an irreplaceable charm.
Kapur, echoing this sentiment, points out that AI lacks inherent morality, emotional depth, and the nuanced ability to create mystery, essential elements in storytelling.
The discourse around AI in the Indian film industry is in a formative stage, with varying perspectives on its role in shaping the future of storytelling, filmmaking processes, and the broader ethical considerations accompanying its integration into the creative realm.
As AI tools continue their rapid evolution, the industry stands poised for a dynamic exploration of their potential and limitations, navigating the delicate balance between technological innovation and the human touch that defines cinematic artistry.